Paris - Sunday Dinners With Jim Haynes

I can't speak about Jim Haynes but I happened upon this website which does very similar but has places all over. I plan on booking a couple on our next trip.

Thanks Christi! I've bookmarked that site.

Andrea, I remember a thread about those dinners here, maybe just after Christmas or late last year... maybe the infamous RS search might work for once?

I've been to dinner at Jim Haynes' several times in the past few years and really enjoyed them. Most attendees are other English-speaking travelers, with a few expats and locals added to the mix. It's fun to share travel experiences, meet others, and have a pleasant evening. The meal is generally a casserole of some kind (easy to make for a crowd), a salad or soup, and a simple dessert (ice cream, etc.) - nothing fancy. Wine and sodas are also included. Jim's apartment is small (as are most ALL Paris apartments), but people spill over into the small courtyard. I hope Jim's health still allows him to continue these dinners since I'll be back in Paris this Fall!

We have done this a couple of times and because we were spending a couple of months in Paris each time, it was a way to make some local ex pat connections. Many of the visitors are local ex pats who make this a regular thing (including some old guys looking to pick up tourists) and many are tourists there for a short while. Jim makes an effort to introduce people to each other and facilitate sociability. Box wine, juices, soft drinks. Simple dinner which was pretty good when we were there -- casserole or stew, nice salad, cake or some such.

The apartment is tiny -- just totally tiny and there is seating for maybe 10 people who end up perched on the edge of the crowd. In winter weather it is fairly horrible but in nice weather it spills into the courtyard and is quite pleasant. You have to be able to eat standing and have a high tolerance for being crowded and jostled.

We met nice people and did some things with some of them later and eventually ended up invited to a lovely French dinner party (I think this is beyond a long shot though)

Worth doing.

Thank you Holly and Jane. That is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. There is no mention of price on his website. How much does it cost?

Holly, when will you be in Paris? We will be there 10/10-15.

Jim asks for 30 euros but will take more or somewhat less. That's not too much for a nice social evening.

you arrive with money in an envelope with your name on it which he ticks off against the reservation list. I think it was 30 last time we went.